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We have therefore been working with medical professional bodies to ensure that GPs and healthcare professionals recognise the importance of work to the health and well-being of their patients; ensure speedy and effective investigation, treatment and rehabilitation; and give sound advice on fitness for work. This work has included the development and testing of a number of training and education programmes and other supportive tools.
Equally important is ensuring that employers understand the challenges faced by people with health problems, so that they can make appropriate adjustments to allow people to remain at work while their health conditions are addressed or to return to work in a phased way as part of their recovery. We are working across government as part of the health, work and well-being strategy to engage and support employers. For example, the Department of Health’s Action on Stigma campaign, “Shift”, in October launched a new package of supportive tools on mental ill-health, designed to give advice on managing and supporting people with mental health problems in the workplace.
Today’s announcement is further evidence of our commitment to achieve a step-change in the support available to help people with mental health conditions find and remain in work.
EU: Cohesion Policy
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office & Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (Lord Jones of Birmingham): My right honourable friend the Minister of State for Competitiveness, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (Stephen Timms) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
In the fourth cohesion report, published on 30 May 2007, the European Commission assesses the impact of cohesion policy at Community, national and regional levels in the European Union. The report also identifies a range of challenges that cohesion policy may be confronted with in the coming years and puts forward a set of questions for consultation. The consultation was formally launched at the Fourth Cohesion Forum in Brussels, held on the 27 and 28 September 2007, which I attended and will close on 31 January 2008.
Cohesion policy is supported by actions at EU, national, regional and local levels. The consultation is not therefore solely about the structural and cohesion funds (SCFs) which have new objectives for the 2007-13 period.
The SCFs are, however, a significant part of the EC budget, on which the Commission has recently published a communication “Reforming the Budget,
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The Government are considering their approach both to the Commission's consultation on the future of cohesion policy and to the budget review process.
In considering the cohesion report the Government will be looking at:
the aims of cohesion policy; and the most efficient mechanisms for achieving these aims.The Government's view on the EC budget is that it should be reformed so that the EU is better equipped to meet the challenges of the 21st century. Its approach is set out in the recent publication, Global Europe: Meeting the Economic and Security Challenges, October 2007. This identifies budgetary reform as one of the priority areas for EU action and sets out the three principles that will guide the Government's approach when considering how to achieve budgetary reform. On the basis of these principles, a priority for reform in the future will be “a significant increase in the percentage of structural and cohesion funds (SCFs) spent on poorer member states”. This is consistent with the policy direction set out in the Government's March 2003 publication, A modern regional policy for the United Kingdom.
The Government encourage interested parties in the UK to respond directly to the Commission on the cohesion report. We would also be interested in their views.
EU: Education Council
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (Lord Triesman): I attended the EU Education Council to represent the UK on behalf of DCSF and DIUS.
Ministers discussed the following issues:
European Qualifications Framework—Political Agreement
The council agreed the European Parliament amendments to the EQF. These amendments were in line with the general approach that had been agreed previously at the Education Council, and there were no additional comments.
Improving the quality of teacher education—Adoption of Conclusions
The conclusions are intended to help countries to improve teaching standards and attract high-quality teachers into the profession. The UK was happy to support these conclusions, which were adopted without discussion.
Education and Training as a Key Driver of the Lisbon Strategy—Adoption of Resolution
This resolution focuses on the role that education and training have to play within the Lisbon strategy, notably the role of education in the knowledge
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New Skills for New Jobs—Adoption of Resolution
This resolution emphasises the importance of anticipating skills needs and providing opportunities for citizens to improve their skill levels to match these needs. I intervened to congratulate the presidency on this initiative, to reinforce the fact that skills have an enabling role and help Europe to compete in an increasingly globalised world, and to emphasise the importance of training those with low skills and those most at risk of social exclusion. The resolution was then adopted with no further comments.
Towards a More Multilingual Europe—Exchange of Views
Most Ministers welcomed this focus on multilingualism, stressing the important social and economic role it has to play within the EU. The main points raised during the discussion included the issues surrounding language training for migrants and the importance of looking beyond the EU to other important global languages. I intervened to acknowledge that the UK has not historically performed well in the teaching and learning of foreign languages, but that significant initiatives have been introduced in recent years. I stressed the importance of all languages, rather than just European languages, in fostering strong and cohesive multicultural communities. It would be a mistake to regard the languages used by long-settled communities as simply an “immigration” issue without regard to pride in historic cultural roots.
Erasmus Mundus Action Programme (2009-2013)— General Approach
Ministers agreed a general approach on the new phase of the Erasmus Mundus programme, which will see an expansion of the programme to all levels of higher education, but particularly to doctoral studies, and provide additional financial support for EU students.
Resolution on Modernising Universities—Exchange of Views
Ministers discussed this resolution, which addresses issues around autonomy, governance, curricula and mobility and will go to the Competitiveness Council (23 November) for formal adoption. I supported the joint approach linking mutually reinforcing areas of university and research policy, and stressed the importance of member states committing to university reforms, which are important for both economic reasons and for the life of universities. Other Ministers reported some progress in reform but were frank about how much more was needed.
Student mobility: broadening the social dimension of Erasmus—Exchange of Views
This discussion saw a call from many Ministers for “positive discrimination” in the awarding of grants, to encourage young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to participate. France stated that it would work on this during its presidency. Anne Lambert, UK Deputy
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EU: General Affairs and External Relations Council
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Malloch-Brown): My honourable friend the Minister for Europe (Jim Murphy) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
I represented the UK at the General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) in Brussels. My right honourable friends the Secretaries of State for Defence (Des Browne) and for International Development (Douglas Alexander) attended discussions of Defence and Development Ministers on 19 and 20 November.
The agenda items covered were as follows:
Preparation of the European Council on 13 and 14 December
The presidency presented the draft agenda for the European Council. The draft agenda calls for discussion of a range of issues, including migration, police and judicial co-operation, the fight against terrorism, the Lisbon strategy for jobs and growth, climate change, sustainable development, maritime policy and external issues. There will be a fuller discussion at the 10 December GAERC.
The Commission presented a proposed action plan on maritime policy. France said maritime governance would be on its presidency agenda. A number of member states intervened to welcome the strategy and to flag up the importance of subsidiarity, the competitiveness of the EU fleet and environmental sustainability.
Commission Legislative Programme 2008
The Commission presented the legislative programme for 2008. The programme’s priorities include growth and jobs, sustainable prosperity in Europe, an integrated approach to migration and Europe as a world partner.
Information on the EU-China and EU-India Summits
The presidency updated member states on preparations for the EU-China and EU-India summits, underlining that these would be an important opportunity to discuss the current situation in Burma.
Preparation of the EU-Africa Summit
The presidency updated member states on its plans for the EU-Africa summit. Member states noted the draft strategy and action plan, to be finalised at Sharm el-Sheikh on 5 December. I intervened to emphasise UK support for the summit’s objectives, but also concern that these should not be undermined by the attendance of President Mugabe. If he did attend, it was important there was substantive discussion of human rights and governance in Zimbabwe, in plenary with President Mugabe present.
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I briefed partners on recent developments, highlighting the potential impact on EU objectives for the region. It was important to maintain pressure on President Musharraf to end the state of emergency and ensure free and fair elections, as set out in the presidency statement of 6 November. The presidency reiterated these points in its statement to the press following the council.
The council discussed the recent decision by the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) not to monitor the Duma elections in Russia, in response to restrictions imposed by the Russian authorities. I intervened to underline UK support for ODIHR’s election-monitoring activities. The UK was deeply concerned and disappointed by the unprecedented restrictions and bureaucratic obstacles Russia had imposed, preventing ODIHR from observing the Duma elections.
The High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy, Javier Solana, briefed member states on his recent visit to the region and on preparations for the US-led conference in Annapolis. The Commissioner for External Relations, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, briefed partners on plans being drawn up by the Commission and Council secretariat for EU practical support to any process to emerge from the conference in Annapolis.
Conclusions were agreed setting out the EU’s strong support for Annapolis and the efforts of Abbas and Olmert; its commitment to support negotiations between the parties through the EU action plan; the need for the parties to take additional steps to meet previous commitments; and support for the goals of the Paris donors’ conference.
Conclusions were also adopted on Lebanon, expressing concern at the continuing impasse in electing a president, but welcoming continuing dialogue and calling for free and fair elections.
The high representative briefed partners on his latest contact with Iran. At my request, the presidency confirmed that a fuller discussion would take place at the December GAERC.
Member states welcomed Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari to the GAERC. He briefed the council on the current situation in Iraq and welcomed the recent visits of the French and Swedish Foreign Ministers. I intervened to emphasise the importance of the EU stepping up its engagement with Iraq, which was reflected in council conclusions. These commit the EU to further support to Iraq through the UN, through humanitarian assistance and through support to the Government of Iraq in their work on the international compact and human rights. They also encourage engagement by Iraq’s neighbours and call on the Governments of Iraq and Turkey to co-operate to ensure the integrity of the border and that Iraqi territory is not used for attacks on its neighbours.
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EU troika representative Ambassador Ischinger briefed the council on the negotiation process. I underlined that the EU had to be ready to set out its position in December and act resolutely thereafter if negotiations failed to produce agreement between the parties.
Conclusions were agreed reaffirming EU support for Ambassador Ischinger, welcoming the conduct of elections in Kosovo, but regretting the poor turnout from the Kosovo Serb community and Belgrade’s call for a boycott. Conclusions also expressed grave concern at the deteriorating political situation in Bosnia-Herzegovina, reiterating the council’s full support for high representative and EU Special Representative Miroslav Lajcak.
The council discussed recent developments in Georgia. Member states noted that, although the state of emergency had been lifted, media freedom remained of concern. It was important that the Government of Georgia ensured that the right conditions were in place for free and fair presidential elections.
Joint Session of Foreign and Defence Ministers
Chad, Central African Republic and Sudan
Foreign and Defence Ministers met in joint session to discuss the proposed ESDP mission to Chad. The Secretary of State for Defence underlined UK political support for the proposed mission as a key element in a comprehensive regional approach.
Conclusions were agreed on current operations and missions under the European security and defence policy (ESDP), capability development including the European Defence Agency, human rights issues and co-operation between the EU and the African Union in strengthening African capabilities.
The head of the European Defence Agency, Alexander Weis, briefed Defence Ministers. Ministers also agreed the 2008 budget for the agency, on the basis that earmarked funds would be drawn down on the basis of a fully worked-up business case and in consultation with member states.
Operation EUFOR ALTHEA (Bosnia-Herzegovina)
The operation commander of EUFOR ALTHEA, General John McColl, briefed Ministers. There was a discussion of the current situation and agreement on the need to maintain pressure on the parties in Bosnia-Herzegovina, to maintain a credible EU force and to make progress on police reform.
The High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy, Javier Solana, presented his report on the EU military staff’s strategic planning capacity. Ministers discussed the shortfalls highlighted in the progress catalogue. The Secretary of State for Defence
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Slovenian Presidency Priorities
The Slovenian Defence Minister outlined the priorities for the Slovenian presidency, including further work on military capabilities and support for work on African peace and stability.
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